A Black Friday online boost helped lift sales over the festive period at department store chain House of Fraser.

The retailer, which has 59 stores across the UK and Ireland, posted sales up 2.7 per cent over the six weeks to the end of December after a 'very strong' online performance across its six-day Black Friday event in November.

Website trade accounted for 41 per cent of Black Friday sales, while the group also saw record trading over the key two weeks to New Year's Eve.

Today's results make House of Fraser one of the winners over the key selling season, showing rival Next a clean pair of heels

Its sales rise marks a rapid turnaround for the group after it warned over high street conditions in September, following a 2 per cent drop in sales in the eight weeks to September 24.

Today's results make House of Fraser one of the winners over the key selling season, showing rival Next a clean pair of heels. Next warned over sales and profits last week after a dismal Christmas performance.

Chairman Frank Slevin said the group had kicked off its overhaul in 2016 as it braced for a 'challenging retail environment'.

He added: 'As we look forward to 2017 and beyond we must continue to adapt as the retail sector evolves.'

It recently opened its first standalone shop in China under a plan to build its brand in the Asian powerhouse - setting up shop in Sanpower Plaza in the commercial zone of Nanjing, capital of Jiangsu province.

Keeping score in the retail world

Next disappoints

Full price sales in Next's stores dropped by a far-worse-than-expected 3.5% in the weeks leading up to Christmas.

The annual winter sale - which starts at 5am each Boxing Day - was also disappointing, with sales down 7 per cent.

Overall, Next's sales were down 0.4 per cent in the fourth quarter to 24 December against analysts' expectation of a more than 2 per cent rise.

For next year, the company is expecting profits to fall to between £680million and £780million.

Ted Baker outperforms

Fashion retailer said sales in the two months to January 7 were up by nearly 18 per cent on the same period the year before.

Online sales are grew by 35 per cent.

Ted Baker's dresses, suits and shirts, often have quirky details such as flowery collars and polka-dotted sleeves, have helped it to stand out from mid-market rivals in Britain.